FrontPage

Nation

World

Media

Culture

Technology

Commentary

World Stage

April 8, 2001

Standoff Between U.S. and China Continues
The standoff between the United States and China over a grounded U.S. Navy surveillance plane continued with Washington rejecting Chinese demands for an apology, and China remaining silent on U.S. demands for the plane and 24 crewmen to be released from detention. Chinese ships and planes are still searching for the airman who parachuted out of the fighter plane that was knocked out of control by the collision with the U.S. plane Sunday over the South China Sea. Secretary of State Colin Powell has rejected China's demand for an apology, saying the incident took place in international airspace. He says the United States has done nothing wrong and has nothing to apologize for. A news account quotes unnamed U.S. officials as saying the pictures from space show Chinese technicians with wrenches entering the reconnaissance plane, presumably to learn the secrets of its advanced intelligence gathering systems.
Related story

EU Weighs in On China Crisis
The European Union called on China to respect international law in its handling of the American spy plane and 24 detained service personnel on April 4, throwing its diplomatic support behind Washington in the mounting crisis. Goran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency, said in Strasbourg: "We hope that China will follow the international rules of the game. There's a very worrisome escalation process going on. But if things reach a stalemate in this particular problem, things can get worse." The EU and U.S have a similar approach to the Communist regime in Beijing, both encouraging Chinese membership of the World Trade Organization and other global bodies that bind China into the international rule of law, while at the same time taking a critical line on human rights abuses.

U.S. Congress' Mood Shifts Toward Selling Arms To Taiwan
China's decision to keep holding 24 American crewmembers of a surveillance plane that made an emergency landing on Chinese territory could generate increased support in the U.S. Congress for the sale of sophisticated military equipment to Taiwan. U.S. President George W. Bush will decide soon what weapons to include in the annual arms sales to Taiwan. The government in Taipei reportedly is requesting 30 weapons systems, including a sophisticated naval radar system and a surveillance plane like the one that is at the center of the standoff between Washington and Beijing. China opposes any U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which it regards as a breakaway province. American and Taiwanese officials will meet to discuss the arms sale on 23 April.

Japanese Prime Minister Mori Resigns
Japan's unpopular Prime Minster, Yoshiro Mori, has formally told his cabinet that he plans to resign. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukada says Mori told his cabinet on April 6 that he thought it was necessary for a new administration to tackle mounting issues both at home and abroad. Mori's popularity rating has plummeted to below 10 percent in recent months. The ruling Liberal Democratic party is scheduled to hold a party leadership election on April 24. The winner is expected to replace Mori as Prime Minister.

EU's Prodi Seeks To Smooth Over Differences With Prague
European Union Commission President Romano Prodi and his commissioner for enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, are on a two-day visit (5-6 April) to Prague to discuss the Czech Republic's progress towards EU accession. The trip is the latest in a series of visits to Eastern candidate countries, designed to encourage those on the lengthy road toward membership. Prodi said that the Czechs are making impressive progress in their accession process, and he felt sure they would be among the first wave to join the Union, in 2004.
Related story

Belgrade Authorities Arrest Milosevic
Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is in a Belgrade prison following his surrender to police at his home. Milosevic was taken into custody on April 1 and brought to Belgrade's central prison. He surrendered to police after a siege lasting some 30 hours. Milosevic faces charges in Yugoslavia of abuse of power, criminal conspiracy, and stealing public funds. In addition, the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague indicted Milosevic in May 1999 for crimes against humanity in Kosovo.
Related story

War Crimes Tribunal Demands that Milosevic be Turned Over to UN for Trial
The United Nations War Crimes Tribunal has presented an arrest warrant for former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to federal authorities in Belgrade. A tribunal official said he handed the warrant to Yugoslavia's Federal Justice Minister on April 6. The UN court indicted Milosevic in May 1999 on three counts of crimes against humanity and one count of violations of the laws and customs of war. If tried and convicted, those charges would bring the tribunal's maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Kursk Carried Nuclear Weapons
The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk had nuclear weapons on board when it sank in the Arctic in August, despite Moscow's insistence that it did not, experts said April 4. The Kursk sank off northwestern Russia during training exercises on Aug. 12, killing all 118 aboard. Russian officials repeatedly told Norway's military that the submarine, one of Russia's most modern, was carrying only non-nuclear practice weapons. But a member of the Russian government investigating commission, Grigori Tomchin, said in an interview with Norway's TV-2 that the submarine was carrying nuclear weapons.

Russia and China to Sign Friendship Treaty
A senior Russian official says Russia and China plan to sign a new friendship treaty during President Jiang Zemin's visit to Moscow in the coming months. Itar-Tass quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as saying the treaty will bring cooperation between China and Russia to a new level. Losyukov says there is already agreement on the preliminary text of the treaty. Losyukov says the ten-year treaty can also be extended. Jiang is to visit Moscow this July.

Turner Buying Stake in Russian TV Network
Media tycoon Ted Turner has announced he is buying a stake in Russia's only independent television network, NTV. This comes amid sharp protests by station employees against the takeover of the network by the state-run gas company, Gazprom. Turner, who founded the Cable News Network (CNN), issued a statement from his headquarters in Atlanta saying he had agreed to buy a minority stake in NTV television. The U.S. media mogul says he is essentially buying the share holdings of NTV founder, Vladimir Gusinsky. Gusinsky is in Spain, fighting extradition back to Russia on fraud charges.
Related story

Greenspan Says Globalization Key to Development
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says free trade will help developing economies more than protectionism will. Greenspan told the Senate Finance Committee a dramatic increase in world competition has led to higher living standards for almost all countries that participate in cross-border trade. He said efforts to reverse globalization to protect local markets were unwise and self-defeating. Greenspan also expressed support for a proposal to let President Bush negotiate international trade agreements with limited congressional influence. Congress would not be able to amend parts of so-called fast-track agreements, but could only approve or reject the entire accord. The White House hopes for progress on the issue before President Bush attends the Organization of American States summit in Canada later this month to discuss prospects for a Western Hemisphere free trade zone.

Canada to Chile Free Trade Zone Set for 2005
The United States is joining its hemispheric partners in accepting a later deadline for setting up the world's largest free trade zone from Canada to Chile. U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans said in Buenos Aires on April 5 he feels a free trade agreement by 2005 is an appropriate position. Evans is in the Argentine capital for a trade officials meeting that will lay the groundwork for negotiations later this month in Quebec.
Related story

Clinton Tours India's Earthquake-Hit Gujarat State
Former President Bill Clinton toured India's earthquake-ravaged Gujarat state on April 4, where he delivered a $50 million check for the victims of January's devastating tremor. Clinton arrived in New Delhi late Tuesday on a commercial flight. He said he is returning to India as a private guest to tour affected areas, meet with families and representatives of relief agencies, and bring attention to the work that remains to be done. Clinton is visiting the region as chairman of the America India Foundation, an organization set up by Americans of Indian origin, who raised the money for reconstruction projects in Gujarat.

Search the Web.

Red Dragon Rising
China's Military Threat to America
Edward Timperlake & William Triplet
As it flexes its diplomatic and military muscles, China is becoming an increasingly powerful player on the world stage.